SIU Closes Investigation into Parry Sound Custody Death

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 22, 2011) - The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has reviewed the facts around the October 2011 custody death of 80-year-old Harald Aldred. Ian Scott, the Director of the SIU, has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe two Ontario Provincial Police officers committed a criminal offence in this case.

The SIU assigned five investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident. The subject officers were interviewed and provided copies of their duty notes. As well, three witness officers and two civilian witnesses were interviewed. The scene was examined, photographed and a video recording was made.

The SIU investigation found that the following events took place on October 24:

The two subject officers, along with three other officers, were involved in containing the perimeter of Mr. Aldred's house during the early hours of October 24th after receiving information that he had recently displayed a rifle at a local citizen and had told that person to get off his property.

After seeing no activity at the residence, the officers were instructed to leave the area.

At approximately 5:00 a.m. that same morning, the two subject officers returned to Mr. Aldred's residence in order to note the licence plate numbers on two vehicles in the driveway. After arrival, they observed Mr. Aldred lying at the rear of his pickup truck with a firearm beside him. He had sustained an obvious firearm injury that caused his death.

Neither officer had discharged his police-issued firearm.

Director Scott said, "In my view, the only reasonable conclusion to draw is that Mr. Aldred died of a self-inflicted firearm injury with no police involvement. Accordingly, I have no reasonable grounds to believe that the two subject officers were involved in his demise."

The SIU is an arm's length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must

consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation

depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid